System for refuelling operations

Abstract

System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations between a tanker aircraft and a receptor aircraft comprising a linking device ( 5 ) connectable to the boom ( 6 ), and a lifting and lowering device ( 14 ) for operating the linking device ( 5 ) and therefore the boom ( 6 ) such that, when refuelling operations have to take place, the boom ( 6 ) is lowered down by the lifting and lowering device ( 14 ), said linking device ( 5 ) comprising connecting means ( 7 ) able to disconnect the boom ( 6 ) from the linking device ( 5 ), thereby allowing a free-flying boom refuelling operation, said connecting means ( 7 ) being also able to connect said boom ( 6 ) to the linking device ( 5 ), thereby facilitating the lifting of the boom ( 6 ).

1 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations between a tanker aircraft and a receptor aircraft comprising a linking device ( 5 ) connectable to the boom ( 6 ), and a lifting and lowering device ( 14 ) for operating the linking device ( 5 ) and therefore the boom ( 6 ) such that, when refuelling operations have to take place, the boom ( 6 ) is lowered down by the lifting and lowering device ( 14 ), characterized in that said linking device ( 5 ) comprises connecting means ( 7 ) able to disconnect the boom ( 6 ) from the linking device ( 5 ), thereby allowing a free-flying boom refuelling operation, said connecting means ( 7 ) being also able to connect said boom ( 6 ) to the linking device ( 5 ), thereby facilitating the lifting of the boom ( 6 ). 
   
   
       2 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the linking device ( 5 ) comprises a cable ( 3 ) and a limit device ( 4 ) located at one of the ends of said cable ( 3 ). 
   
   
       3 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the linking device ( 5 ) also comprises a duct ( 1 ) through which passes the cable ( 3 ). 
   
   
       4 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations according to  claims 2 , characterized in that the linking device ( 5 ) also comprises a chain ( 2 ), the cable ( 3 ) passing through a hole in said chain ( 2 ) 
   
   
       5 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations according to  claims 3 , characterized in that the duct ( 1 ) is made of plastic. 
   
   
       6 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations according to ally of  claims 3 , characterized in that the duct ( 1 ) is a cylindrical tube. 
   
   
       7 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations according to  claim 1 , characterized in that bending of the linking device ( 5 ) is substantially restricted in the plane comprising the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and the boom ( 6 ), for facilitating to be connected to the boom ( 6 ), being the bending of said linking device ( 5 ) favoured outside of said plane for absorbing lateral movements of the boom ( 6 ). 
   
   
       8 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the lifting and lowering device ( 14 ) comprises driving means ( 16 ) and transmission means ( 8 ) moved by said driving means ( 16 ), for operating the linking device ( 5 ). 
   
   
       9 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations according to  claim 6  characterized in that the transmission means ( 8 ) are wheels and the driving means ( 16 ) are motors. 
   
   
       10 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the lifting and lowering device ( 14 ) also comprises torque limiting devices ( 17 ) for operating the linking device ( 5 ) at a low speed. 
   
   
       11 . System for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) at in flight refuelling operations according to  claims 9 , characterized in that the lifting and lowering device ( 14 ) also comprises a holding device ( 18 ) for holding together the wheels ( 8 ) and the linking device ( 5 ). 
   
   
       12 . An aircraft having a system for hoisting and releasing an aircraft refuelling boom ( 6 ) according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       13 . Method for performing in-flight refuelling operations between a tanker aircraft and a receptor aircraft, the tanker aircraft having a boom refuelling system comprising a linking device ( 5 ) connectable to the boom ( 6 ), characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
 a) lowering down the linking device ( 5 ), therefore lowering the boom ( 6 ) to a position near or in the area where the boom is able to fly freely;   b) disconnecting the boom ( 6 ) from the linking device ( 5 ) for operating normal refuelling, and   c) lifting the boom ( 6 ) to a stowed position, once normal refuelling is finished.   
   
   
       14 . Method for performing in-flight refuelling operations between a tanker aircraft and a receptor aircraft according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the step c) comprises the following steps:
 a) lowering down the linking device ( 5 );   b) connecting the boom ( 6 ) to the linking device ( 5 ) by the use of connecting means ( 7 ), and   c) lifting the linking device ( 5 ) and therefore the boom ( 6 ) to a stowed position, once normal refuelling is finished.